Ocean Waves QAL Check In

How are you coming along on your Ocean Waves quilt??  

I managed to get 9 blocks completed so far!  

That means I am 1/4 of the way done!  

Are you enjoying the process?  

I sure am. 

 I am trying to sew three blocks worth of HST at one time when I get a chance to work on them.  

Then I press and trim.  

I like to assemble four quarters of each block next.

Finally I put the quarters together into one block.  It feels so good to be making progress on this quilt.

I am re-watching the series 24 while I am stitching.

Falling in love with Jack Bauer all over again!

What do you watch when you are sewing?

I'm always looking for new series.

I'm afraid my progress will be coming to a halt as I have yet one more baby quilt to work on.

The pattern is one that I have wanted to make for some time.

It is called Folksy Fish. 

More on that later, but for now please share your progress.

We can all use some encouragement on our Ocean Waves project.

For me it is 9 down, 27 to go!

If you want to join in, please go to the Ocean Waves QAL tutorial page under my header.

If you are playing along, please link back so others can join us!

Please link up using the blue inlinkz button.

If sharing on social media please use #OceanWavesQAL

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs With Friends

I'm pretty sure you can tell from the last post what I have been working on! 

 I did manage to finish the baby Yeti wall hanging.  

It has been a bittersweet week at my house this week.  

Every time I go into my sewing room I am reminded that Autumn is no longer with me. 

 I miss her so much!

Hallie is trying so hard to fill those shoes.

  She is very sweet and with all the other cats in heaven now, she is coming into her own.  

I am remembering the reason my daughter left her with us. 

 That cat LOVES me.  

When I get home she is waiting on the steps and wants to go upstairs.  

She is a little overweight so getting up on the bed or my sewing table requires a little more thought, but she does it.  

She sleeps next to me every night now too.  Like a giant, purring cat pillow!

I did get another Ocean Waves block done. 

 Even though each block seems to take forever to do, I am really enjoying the process. 

 I have to say it is encouraging me to sew slowly and more precisely.  

I feel like 99% of my points are right on. 

 I have found that pressing open has really helped with this. 

 It was something I learned in a class with Jan Krentz. 

 Not only does it reduce bulk but it allows you to see more easily where to pin for perfect points. 

 I will try to get a good photo of what I mean when I get home.

If you want to play along you can find the collection of posts about the QAL under my header.
It says Ocean Waves QAL.
If you click on it you will go to the posts with directions.

We are leaving for vacation to visit my in-laws tomorrow, 

so I will probably not be posting here for the next week. 

 I am not bringing my computer only my iPad and it is really difficult to post using that.

  I should be on Instagram and Facebook if you want to see what we are doing.  

Otherwise I will post all about our trip once I get home.  

My son will be staying at our house to watch over the house and keep Hallie company.

I will link up to Sew Fresh Quilts

Your turn now.  

Share with all of us what you are working on.  

Please use the blue Inlinkz button to share.  

If you are sharing on Instagram please use #OceanWavesQAL.  

Have a Happy Week!

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

I Carry Your Heart In Mine

I want to thank you all for being so kind about my Autumn cat crossing over to the rainbow bridge.  Your words of comfort were so wonderful.  

It is never easy to send a furry family member on the next leg of their journey, as many of you know from first hand experience as well. 

 I saw this and was comforted by it and thought I would share it with you all.

As many of you know that follow me this was my beloved Autumn.  

She was always in my sewing room with me, frequently with her tail very close to the needle. 

 She would often lay her head so close the fabric would go over her head as I sewed. 

 She just wanted to be near me.  

I like to think that she is in an angel's lab giving them some joy!

Interestingly my other calico, Hallie has taken up the hat of sewing room companion! 

 I was working on my Ocean Waves quilt this weekend and got up. 

 When I cam back 

she was resting her head on the pieces I was sewing while they were under the needle!

Remember the Bigfoot baby quilt I was making with my friends?  

Well, there were a few extra trees.  

Which led to an extra Bigfoot being created. 

 I decided to make them into a wall hanging but it looked kind of bare 

so I wanted to embroider something on it.  

I decided to add the quote,

"I carry your heart in mine"  

I guess this is how I have been feeling about all the cats I have lost.  

I will always carry their hearts in mine. 

 Just as the new mom will carry her baby's heart in hers.  

I did the quilting on this too.  Not sure you can tell but I put a heart in a heart on the Bigfoot. 

I quilted her in a grid using masking tape for the line work.

I am especially happy with how the tree turned out with those additional triangles being made.

Here is the whole top with the binding on it.

This is the back.  I put those triangles into the binding so the quilt can be hung on the wall.

That's pretty much what I was up to this past weekend.  How about you?

~XOP~

Autumn Cat

As I sit here thinking about what to write to describe how I feel the tears are streaming down my face.  I had to make that one way trip to the vet last night with my cat Autumn. 

 She had been struggling with hyperthyroid and kidney disease.  

She stopped eating over the past few days and yesterday she cried when I picked her up. 

 I think she was ready but I was not.  

I opened the door of my sewing room for her one last time (our happy place).  

She got down off my bed and walked, ever so gingerly, into my sewing room. 

 She hopped up on the chair then on to my table and turned and looked at me with a look that said, "Where is my ice water?" 

 I went back downstairs and filled my water bottle with ice and water, like I did every time we sewed and brought it back upstairs. 

 She had one last drink and laid down on "her" quilt.  

She laid there and purred and purred.  

I sewed a bit as I know she likes the heat of the sewing machine and my light. 

 I didn't turn on the TV so I could listen to her purr one last time.  

My daughter came over to say goodbye and we face-timed my other daughter so she could say goodbye (Autumn was her cat).  It was a very difficult night for everyone.  

My hubby drove us to the vet and I held Autumn in my arms.  

We went in and although we had to wait a little bit it but 

it was nice to have those last few moments to say goodbye.  

We burried her out at the farm next to her brother, Mosen and her sister, Aiden.  

It is the passing on an era in our family life.  

We were 5 cats now we are just one.  

RIP sweet baby girl.  

I love you so much and will miss snuggling with you in bed every night. 

 I will miss your demand for ice water in my water bottle and your sweet, sweet company as I sew.  Please tell the others I love them and you all need to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

I will always love you Sweet Pea!  16 1/2 years was NOT long enough.  

XOXO Mom

WIPs With Friends

How is it always Wednesday already??  

I swear the weeks go by so quickly lately.  

I forgot to show some fabric I bought last week when we were on our way home from GR.  

All of it was on sale, yay!

I did get my Mrs Big Foot all appliqued and the receiving blanket made.

My girls were "helping" me.  

I put this quilt top together and sewed a back for it. I got the batting cut and sent it to the LAQ today.

I also managed to sew almost 150 HST (three blocks worth) for my Ocean Waves quilt.  

They are all pressed and ready to trim.

We ended up with a few more trees so I am going to make another Big Foot like in this top.

I think we are going to make them into pillows.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts

I almost forgot!  We have a winner!!

Christine Thompson!

I will send you an email to get your address for the charm pack.

Now it's your turn.

What are you working on.

Add your link here using the blue Inlinkz button.

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs With Friends And A Giveaway

I have been working on a few things this past weekend. 

 None of which were my Ocean Waves quilt though. 

 I have a shower gift to make and I began working on a Chenille blanket for 

my newest great nephew born last week.

I made the bee block for February.  Isn't it adorable? 

 I'm pretty sure I need to make an entire quilt of strawberries now.  

I finished the oven mitts but can't show them = (  

I have to wait until I can gift those. 

 I did begin working on the chenille blanket I needed to have ready to mail out this week. 

 So many lines of sewing!

If you want to make one too check out my Chenille blanket tutorial.

I managed to get all the lines sewn and then later cut.  Then I just need to bind, wash and mail!

Hubby and I went to the Camper and RV show this past weekend. 

 We are totally in love with these Retro campers.  

We drove by the factory last time we were in Shipshewana (accidently) and discovered them. 

 They make a fifth wheel but there was not a model at the camper show.  

We did speak with someone that is going to try to get us a factory tour and talk about what our options are with a fifth wheel and the cost.  

SQEE!!  

This is one of the things we are planning on doing when I retire.  

TRAVEL!!!  

Can we come and see YOU???  

This is not the interior of the Retro but another one that we liked.  

The show was overwhelming, but it did help us narrow down the things we liked and did NOT like.  He kept on saying, 

"We have to make sure there will be a place for you to set up your sewing machine" 

 Ah, he knows how to make a girl happy!

Last but not least, I am working on a Yeti receiving blanket.  

If I had a brain in my head I would make this into a quilt rather than a receiving blanket,

 but I don't so there you have it! 

 I think I need to change out the lips for a more subtle shade of pink. 

 (she looks more clown/whorish than I like right now).  

So no big deal, but I have to get her stitched around and 

the receiving blanket part done by next week for the baby shower! 

 I'll keep you posted.

Curious about the giveaway? 

 I have a an adorable charm pack to send to you! 

 If you want a chance to win, please tell me one place we should visit on our camping adventure

 in your state and why.  

Giveaway closes Friday February 17 in the morning.
I will announce the winner on Friday.
Please make sure I can contact you via email.
I will go to the next winner if I cannot.

For a second chance link up to our WIPs With Friends so we can all see what you are working on too!  Just use the Inlinkz button to link up.  

I'm linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social

That's it!  Easy peasy!  Good luck and happy stitching!

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

Ocean Waves QAL Check in

I thought I would see where everyone is at this point.  

I must admit that I just finished all my cutting this past weekend 

and have not had much time to sew this week. 

Here are the Neptune squares I will be adding to my quilt in various permutations.

All stacked up and waiting for their background fabrics.

I feel like I cut and cut and cut some more of all this white!  

I used most of my Lizzy House Pearl Bracelets up!  

WAhhhhhhh.

Autumn seemed to like the Pearl Bracelets as much as me!

I pay her in water!  LOL

Now it's time for you all to share what your progress is so we may all be encouraged.  

Click the blue Inlinkz button to add your post.  

Don't forget to use #OceanWavesQAL on social media.

Happy Stitching!

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up